'My son was forced to hide crack cocaine in a Kinder egg'

Groomed by drug dealers: boy, 13, who had Kinder egg with cocaine and heroin

A DISTRAUGHT mother was forced to leave her home when her 13-year-old son was exploited by drug dealers - and came home with a Kinder egg full of crack cocaine and heroin.

The mum, who will remain anonymous, was moved out of Quantock flats, Southend, by police for safety reasons. But, she says Southend Council are now evicting her from her new flat and will only house her back at the tower block.

The 35-year-old said: “We were housed in Quantock in January, but problems started within a couple of months.

“My son came to me in tears with a Kinder egg full of crack cocaine and heroin not knowing what to do with it. He was petrified. I was in shock. I had to arrange for a group of male friends to give it back to the people who gave it to him.

“But they said he still owes the money for it and that’s when it escalated.

“He told me he had been ‘g-checked’ which is where he is robbed and beaten up outside his home. They regularly tried to kick down our door, first just kids his own age, but then men. We also had lit matches posted through the letterbox.

“Thankfully, Quantock has reinforced doors which is the only good thing when you’re on the other side and frightened for your life with your child.

“We have both been threatened with acid attacks and stabbings and I have received threats of sexual assault if we return.”

The pair were moved out of the tower block by police and were placed in a South Essex Homes property temporarily.

However, due to several complaints which the mother says are “malicious”, they have now been asked to leave and told the only property available in Southend is back at Quantock.

The mother added: “It’s ludicrous. They told me I could move out of the area but I have been to other councils in tears begging for housing and was told Southend must house me. This has destroyed our lives and I have nowhere else to turn.”

Southend Council said it had worked “very closely” with the family and police, but that help “had been refused”.

Councillor Tony Cox, said: “We have been working very closely with South Essex Homes and Essex Police to provide support to this resident, initially finding a temporary solution very quickly to ensure the resident was safe.

“This option was always a temporary measure, and this was explained clearly at the time and a number of times since.

"It is an adapted property for disabled residents, and that property must remain available for residents on the housing register who require an adapted property. In addition to this, a number of complaints have been received about anti-social behaviour being carried out at the property.

“The advice given to this resident from all agencies involved is to move out of the area, and we have offered various streams of support to enable this to happen. Unfortunately this has been refused and so we are left with no other option than to ask them to move back to their previous property.”

A South Essex Homes spokesman, said: “Unfortunately despite repeated attempts by South Essex Homes and other agencies, who are keen to provide support, dialogue has broken down.

"Exceptional assistance has been offered to assist the family in securing private rented accommodation, despite breaking the conditions of their license.”

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